A public meeting in Rawhiti this weekend will finalise the location of a new fire station.
Te Rawhiti Rural Fire Force, which responds to blazes and other emergencies on the isolated Rawhiti Peninsula east of Russell, has been based in a small shed on the chief fire officer's front lawn at Hauai Bay since 2009.
Fire chief Rana Rewha said the shed was only big enough for gear so their appliance had to be parked outside in all weather conditions.
The force had 12 core members with more keen to join up but it was difficult to train new members without a proper base.
They were also fundraising for equipment such as a IRB (inflatable rigid boat) - the force was often called to medical emergencies and fires on boats or on the islands - which would also need to be housed.